Acquisition of Dutch Atjeh

The Acquisition of Dutch Atjeh (24 February 1859-29 January 1860) was a short military conflict fought between the Netherlands and the Atjeh Sultanate. The Dutch gained control over Banda Atjeh after crushing both the Anarcho-Liberal uprising in the region as well as the Army of the Sultan of Atjeh.

Background
The Atjeh Sultanate, a Muslim Malay kingdom located in the Banda Atjeh region of northern Sumatra, was an uncivilized monarchy. The Atjeh Sultanate had survived numerous wars with colonial powers, and was powerful. However, an 1859 uprising against the Sultan of Atjeh by anarcho-liberals (citizen guard soldiers who believed that they had to fight for their rights to the death) prompted the Netherlands to prepare forces to invade the sultanate and acquire a new protectorate.

War
The 21,238-strong Dutch 4th Army under Simon van Assendelft marched into the Sibolga region of Banda Atjeh while Stefan Cort-Heyligers and the Dutch 1st Army laid siege to Medan, with the Dutch colonial troops leaving Padang and Siak, respectively. The Dutch occupation of Sibolga was interrupted when 3,000 Anarcho-Liberals under Yusuf al-Khairat rose up against the Dutch, and the Dutch eradicated the rebels in the Battle of Sibolga, which cost the Dutch only 69 dead. The Dutch armies then proceeded to Banda Aceh, which they subdued on 5 November 1859 after defeating Ismail Riayat Shah's 15,000-strong army in the Battle of Banda Atjeh. The region was occupied by 29 January 1860, when Atjeh became a protectorate of the Dutch.